healthcare – Page 17 – Kiyoshi Kurokawa.com

Seattle, USA

Posted on 2008/06/232014/10/01 by kiyoshi kurokawa

I am now in Seattle, participating in Pacific Health Summit which is held annually in June since last 4 years. I have attended the first conference four years ago, but could not make it to the 2nd and 3rd conference due to some other schedule.

This year’s theme was "Nutrition" and I participated in a panel on "Soaring Food Prices, MDG (Millennium Development Goals)." The host was Peter Singer from Toronto University, one of my old friends. The problem of nutrition and food is a global challenge. As the FAO conference held in Rome 2 weeks ago was not so successful, it may not be easy, but the topic is expected to be in the agenda of Toyako Summit to be held in July.

Photo 1 Dr. Kondo of HPI and Dr. Sunil Chacko

Photo 2 At the panel with Dr. Peter Singer on my right, Dr. Marc Van Ameringen, Director General of GAIN on my left(we were together in the Conference held in February.)

Recently, I am immersed in TICAD as well as G8 Summit, greenhouse, energy, poverty, development and issues in Africa, etc. It’s nice, I see same people (refer 1 and 2 ) on one hand and also get acquainted with new people on the other hand. The world is "flat" now and issues have become global. I feel that challenges that Japan and each one of us will face in the future will be very big. I also met Dr. Margeret Chan, Director General of WHO whom I haven’t seen since last year. She is also exercising great leadership skills.

Seattle is a very beautiful city with beautiful waterfronts and woods. The weather was fine and I enjoyed my stay very much. I even went to see the game of Mariners using my free time. This year their condition was not so good. Audience was small (almost 1/4th of the capacity of stadium), and Ichiro had 2 strikeouts. It was a boring match since the team lacked the "winning" spirit. But applause for Ichiro was greatest in his home ground and I think he will appear in the "All Star Game" this year too (last year he was the MVP). What a pity that Jojima was not a part of starting member! As expected, the replacement of the manager was announced on the next day.

Photo 3 Mariner’s Game

Photo 4 Ichiro at bat

TICAD4 Yokohama and Asahi newspaper chief editor Bono

Posted on 2008/06/102014/10/01 by kiyoshi kurokawa

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A large number of achievements were released from Japan at TICAD4, held in Yokohama, I can say. Having heads from 40 countries in Africa to the conference, the Prime Minister Fukuda met and talked personally with them almost every day. In addition, he talked with Dr. Bono as well as Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, UN Secretary-general Adviser. Japanese Government certainly worked hard and did a good job. I feel that the Prime Minister strengthened his recognition of the importance of the activities of NGO.

Photo 1 From left, with my staff members Hara kun and Ms. Sugiyama, Dr. Pablos-Mendes at the TICAD Conference

I also attended the Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize ceremony and lectures of the prizewinners at the United Nations University on the next day, participated in the panel of "Action Wave" organizer Mr. Koji Omi, with the President of Rwanda and Professor Juma of Harvard University. Since I had just received the photograph of a lecture by Mr. Ito Ken of Tokyo University in Rwanda, I was inspired to start this panel with his story. Here also, many Japanese young people are working hard.

Photo 2 Dr. Ito teaching at Rwanda

In the excellent project of "one day chief editor" of Asahi Newspaper, Dr. Bono edited the newspaper of May 31, and discussed various topics such as Africa and TICAD and it was sparklingly different from regular newspaper. In addition, he wrote about Africa support program budget of Japan that was announced at TICAD.

Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize

Posted on 2008/05/302014/10/01 by kiyoshi kurokawa

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The inaugural ceremony of "Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize" was held in the evening of May 28th, the first day of TICAD 4, in the presence of Emperor and Empress.

Dr. Greenwood and Dr. Were, the winners of the award, are great people who have embodied the spirit of Hideyo Noguchi. They are both very modest and friendly. Such a great work performed by husbands and wives, supporting and helping each other in Africa for a period of more than 30 years is very respectable. As a selection committee chairman, I am happy from the bottom of my heart that we are able to present to the world with great pride this excellent selection result.

Photograph 1

The head of states and chief of government of more than 40 countries from Africa have participated in this celemony and it was really a refreshing and pleasant reception that reflected the personality of both of them.

Photograph 2

Photograph 3

Photograph 4

Photograph 5

Photograph 6

Former Prime Minister Mr. Koizumi, as a founder of this award, greeted everyone and said, "It seems that, today the spirit of Dr. Noguchi has come down over all the people in this assembly hall." We came to know afterwards that this was an improvisation and was not in the original draft. It’s a good expression, isn’t it? There really was that sort of an atmosphere in the entire assembly hall.

Next day in the afternoon, Dr. Greenwood and Dr. Were both gave speech at the United Nations University at Aoyama. Ms. Doden of NHK led panel of three (myself and the two) which was also good. After that, they went to visit Inawashiro, the birthplace of Hideyo Noguchi. There was a grand welcome in Inawashiro. Details are written in the Blog of Mr. Kanke, Mayor of Aizu Wakamatsu city (29th May, 30th May). I imagine that they learned something new about Hideyo Noguchi at the actual place of his upbringing. The winners and their family enjoyed the visit, I hear. For a moment, I felt much closer to Africa again.

Our Article in Nikkei Shinbun on Global Health Summit

Posted on 2008/05/302014/10/01 by kiyoshi kurokawa

We organized in February, "Global Health Summit; TICAD, G8 and beyond" with World Bank and other leading agencies on Global Health. The program could be seen through our website. To disseminate our core messages, we published them as an article in Nikkei Shinbun, leading press widely read by business sector of Japan.

I hope you will enjoy and support our messages. Now appears in English.

　Japan Should Demonstrate Leadership in Global Health
　（JAPAN ECHO.　June 2008 pp51-53.）

Meeting with Mr. Bill Gates

Posted on 2008/05/092014/10/01 by kiyoshi kurokawa

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I flew to Jakarta in the morning of May 7th to participate “The Government Leaders Forum ?Asia” organized by Microsoft, and delivered Keynote speech in the panel ‘IT and Healthcare.’ Perhaps there are some 20 Japanese participants who included Vice President of Keio University, one of IT-gurus of Japan, Prof. Jun Murai, and Mayor of Hiroshima City, Mr. Akiba.

This series of Conference began in USA, in Europe, and now the forth year in Asia. Plenary speakers were included Indonesian Minister, Dr. Surin (we met three times in the last 2 months), Director General of ASEAN and two senior executives of Microsoft. Then followed by three panels in Day 1. In Day 2, speeches of President of Indonesia and Mr. Bill Gates will be delivered, but I had to leave Jakarta in the evening of Day 1, so that I will miss the program of Day 2. Thus, I was out of Japan for only 44 hours.

After my panel session, I had a private meeting with Mr. Gates for about 30 minutes discussing several issues of our common interest that included Global Health Summit we hosted this February, G8 Summits and other global issues and IT in education and healthcare (photo: his staff and assistants were understandably very nervous). He is very smart and sharp and quietly looking into documents I handed out to him. Mr. Oigawa, senior executive of Microsoft Japan told me that he has not seen Mr. Gates so relaxed and pleased in a meeting.

To Singapore, Paris and Cassis

Posted on 2008/04/302014/10/01 by kiyoshi kurokawa

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Departed for Singapore on 24th afternoon. Checked-in at the hotel around midnight. On 25th, there was a board of directors meeting of A*STAR. We moved crisply with the busy proceedings and discussions as usual, and visited newly established immunity laboratory in the evening. As Japan is strong in this field, I think that it is a good place for a young researcher to become independent. Also, I had a talk on the phone with Prof. Ito from Kyoto University virus laboratory who is working here.

Within 24 hours after arriving to Singapore, I left for Paris on 25th late at night. After relaxing the whole day, in the evening, I had been invited along with Dr. Mario Tokoro, president of SONY Computer Science Laboratory and Dr. Kitano from the French friends residing in Paris. So we five had dinner at the exclusive members club situated between Japanese embassy and British embassy at St. Honore. We talked on various lively topics and I was convinced that the people who are talking with, atmosphere, tradition and the environment of the place are very important. Such things are not possible even if we spent money and tried to imitate it.

The weather in Paris was wonderful. Atmosphere was pleasant and the trees were in beautiful greens. This is the best season to stay Paris in the year. The feeling was very good. I stayed in Paris in this season last year too. Sometimes, it is nice to spend time with relaxation in a foreign country. However, it was well enough busy schedules.

On 26th, I left from Gare de Lyon to Marseille. From there I went to Cassis. It was a small conference with the theme "Sustainability," organized by SONY laboratory. It was held at Camargue last year.

I visited UNESCO-L’Oreal in March, Minister Pecresse visited me and I was interviewed by French TV in April. I feel like I am being immersed in France these days.

Photo1 Cassis port

Photo2 Hotel where I was staying.

Photo3　Cassis Coastline

Photos 1～3 are senery of Cassis. This resort are surrounded by white cliff, it was like Zushi Japan. It is the place where airplane of Antoine de Saint Exupery, famous for "The Little Prince," was hit and sunk down.

ACP Japan Chapter annual meeting

Posted on 2008/04/172014/10/01 by kiyoshi kurokawa

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As introduced number of times in this blog, American College of Physicians (ACP) has branch office in Japan and is supported by Japanese Society of Internal Medicine. It is the first branch outside the American Continent, working on the mission to bring up proper physicians in the global era
Professor David Dale (University of Washington, Seattle), President from the headquarters visited to Japan with his wife this year also and we had a delightful dinner together on April 11th (Photograph 1).

Photograph 1
Dinner with Professor Dr. and Mrs. Dale.
From left Professor Dale with Mrs. Dale, Dr. Hiyama, Ms. Miyamoto (Secretary General) , Dr, Ueno and me.

In the annual meeting on April 12th, various ideas were put into in the program. "Britain-U.S. style case discussion" was conducted for the medical students and residents, and there was a "female doctor’s activity" research presentation and discussion by the medical students in the afternoon session. This is a program of the committee being organized by female doctors. The main topics of this year were problems of female doctors, leadership, mentor and there was a powerful lecture by Guest Dr. Heshiki (former professor of Saitama Medical College radiation department who also worked at Johns Hopkins etc.).

Moreover, "Ichimoku Ryozen: self-explanatory" by Professor Gremillion of Kamogawa Hospital in Chiba Prefecture which is well known for its good clinical training is becoming popular every year. It is a presentation with the well-designed cases that feature examples that are characteristic in Japan also. Please consider it as model.

Neary 100 members of the branch are doing activities of translating the articles of Journals such as "Annals of Internal Medicine", quickly loading it onto the web-site and informing about it via mail. This year, they were awarded with the Evergreen prize from head office. The credit goes to all who participated. I hear that it is utilized by lots of members and used at the actual sites of diagnosis, treatment and clinical education. Requesting you all to become a member.

Professor Ide who is expanding the activity of "Psychiatry in Primary Care" won the Volunteer Award.

It is an activity also important from the perspective of current state of Japan especially where "depression" is increasing in these 10 years. Congratulations and expecting increasing activities in the future.

In the end, a reception was held as usual and it was an enjoyable event with the participation of Dr. Hinohara and much more students and residents this year (photograph 2). Afterward I received many thankful mails from students. I would like you to experience the world widely and pursue a suitable career in the global era. The future is for young people.

Photograph 2

With students at the reception. I enjoy this most.

(Photographs from Mr.Hirayama who had sent me a mail)

Announcement of Winner of Noguchi Hideyo Africa Prize

Posted on 2008/04/042017/06/29 by kiyoshi kurokawa

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Prime Minister Mr. Koizumi announced "Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize" during his visit to Africa in May 2006. The prize is granted in 2 sections, the prize for the medical contribution for health problems of Africa and other one is contribution for health care, which attracts the attention of not only Africa but also the world. The award ceremony is held in this end of May joining with TICAD. On this occasion, 2 winners were decided and announced. Although I had played a role of the chief of selection committee member, I was very glad for getting out the unanimous conclusion.

Mr. Greenwood from England was awarded in the medical field had played an active role in the medical field for 30 years in Africa as a doctor and contributed for the various measures against malaria and infective diseases.

In the health care field, Dr. Were of Kenya was awarded. Despite many objections, ｓhe also built the fundamental sanitation environment over 40 years keeping focus especially on females and children and continued it steadily. She has great contribution in promoting the health in Kenya as well as in Africa.

This news was reported all over the world especially at Rockefeller University, WHO(which very much supported Dr. Noguchi as his centers of activities), UZIMA Foundation and World Bank(which are the center of activities of Dr. Were).
I think this is a good opportunity to give momentum to Japan leadership towards TICAD in May and G8 summit in July though.

Following sites are the news reports and responses from various countries. Please refer it.

British Embassy in Japan
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

<international organization>
WHO
World Bank
Rockefeller University
Gates Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
Roll Back Malaria Partnership
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
PEPFAR
AMREF
Medicines for Malaria Venture
Association of School of Public Health
Global Health Council
USAIDS
Society for International Development
UN radio
University 500 news

<press coverage inside Japan> (English version. There were many articles in Japanese.)
Japan Today

<press coverage outside Japan>
Kenya Broadcasting Corporation
Breitbart
Capital FM
Africa Science News Service
Apanews
Africa News Source
Africa News
The Nations (Kenya)
Medical News Today
Medical Health Articles
Health Care Industry
a2 media group
Med Store News
Latin America News Agency
Kinhua PR Newswire
Institute of Medical Infomation/Medical Library in China
YNCDC in China

However, still Japan’s Overseas Aid has declined remarkably. In the 1990’s, it was world’s No.1, having great contribution in revival of Asia and also in growth. Now Japan, still the world’s 2nd country in GDP, is
on the 5th place and it is assumed to be distanced by US, Germany, France and also by UK. It is predicted to be distanced one after another by Holland, Spain etc. Although it is the financial condition, it is regrettable. It becomes a national reliance and trust problem. Japan has difficulty in changing its policies.

Though the world has changed rapidly, Japan is too focused to domestic issues to change. Isn’t it? The leaders respectively from government, bureaucracy, industry and academia have to contribute definitely. Anyone can give reasons for not doing something. Responsibility is the behavior.

Welcoming Leaders-to-Be on Global Health

Posted on 2008/04/022014/10/01 by kiyoshi kurokawa

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One of my former associate at Health Policy Institute, Mr. Ban-no (see blog on Aug. 2007.～sorry, but this is in Japanese on my visit to New Delhi), who now studies at Harvard University School of Public Health. He brought with him some 30 classmates to Japan and I was invited to give a welcome speech for their Day 1. I began by asking them whether they read or listened to the 2007 Commencement speeches at Harvard by Bill Gates and another one at Stanford 2005, by Steven Jobs. Surprisingly or not, a handful knew about these speeches, thus I strongly recommended them to read and view them on the web, benefits of our connected world. Mr. Gates and Jobs both delivered quite passionate and moving messages to these selected small number of students what they could think of in their future career.

I discussed the issues on global health, MDGs, and related matters they would and should challenge. It was a very enjoyable one hour for all and all students seemed enjoy our interaction. One student from Iraq later sent me a moving email which reflects the status of his country and his career and I replied with encouragements toward our common goals.

photo1　Our group picture

They then will visit a couple of places over a week. But when I was told that they will visit Hiroshima with a visit to A-Bomb memorial, I strongly suggested them to try to see Ms. Nassrine Azimi, Director of UNITAR in Hiroshima. She is one of the most intelligent and most inspiring persons I met. So I called her office, but she was out in Thai, then, but just back in time to greet them later in the week in Hiroshima. I received an email from Mr. Ban-no to tell me how fortunate they felt they were to see her even for a short time to discuss various matters including A-Bomb and also a ‘thank you’ email from her, too. Unexpected encounters are often a step for something new of significance and I am sure this could be such one for some of students.

Meeting with Mr. Blair and participating in “Blair Project”

Posted on 2008/03/212014/10/01 by kiyoshi kurokawa

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From March 14 to 16, “G20 meeting of ministers of energy and environment” was held in Makuhari, Chiba prefecture.

In the morning of 13th, I met with Prof. Sachs and discussed about the latest Global Health Summit, as well as the announcement made by president Bush during his visit to Africa, on additional support for Africa on neglected infectious diseases other than HIV, Malaria, and tuberculosis. We also discussed about various types of ODAs, supports that can produce visible outcomes, and how we could best fund them. From late afternoon, a meeting organized by Columbia University was held in Shanghai, to which I was invited, but unfortunately had to be excused.

I then rushed to the 3rd meeting of GIES, “GIES2008.” “GIES2007” held in June 2007, and there my talk on “Innovation25,” is available on webcast.

In the morning of March 14, I had breakfast with Honorable Malcolm Wicks, Minister of State of Energy of the United Kingdom, who participated in the “G20” meeting. In the late morning of March 15, I with several others met with Mr. Tony Blair, prime minister of England until last year (Photo 1). Mr. Blair delivered a keynote lecture early in the morning at G20 meeting. We discussed primarily on climate change and its policy of upcoming G8 Summit, China policy, issues on developing countries, and other related issues. Mr. Blair highlighted the topic of climate change for the first time at his Gleneagles G8 summit in 2005, and since then he is sincerely working hard to follow up the theme. He works closely Davos meeting, and co-presided a lecture given by prime minister, Mr. Fukuda, this year’s Davos meeting. Mr Blair has continued his effort through various mechanisms to work on thi and other major global issues. I have been invited to join his team and am looking forward to participate in this honorable endeavor. Mr. Blair will head to next destination, Beijing and New Delhi, and I have already starting to correspond with his staffs by e-mail. No time to waste!

Photo1　With Mr. Tony Blair

March 16, lunch at “Global warming symposium” organized by Ministry of Environment, Tokyo, and Nikkei (photo 2), followed by keynote lecture by Mr. Blair, and a panel by Mr. Kamoshita, Ishihara, etc (photo 3). Excerpts will hopefully appear in Nikkei Shinbun sometime soon.

Photo2　Lunch with Mr. Blair. From left, myself, President Nishizawa of Tokyo Metropolitan University, Mr. Namiki, vice Minister of Environment, Mr. Graham Fry, British Ambassador to Japan, Mr. Blair, Mr. Ishihara

Photo3　 From left on the panel discussion, Mr. Kamoshita, Minister of Environment, Mr. Blair, Mr. Ishihara

Photo4　Before the lecture, myself with Mr Graham Fry, British Ambassador to Japan